Cap seal cutter



March 1954 A. J. SILBERHORN CAP SEAL CUTTER Filed June 21, 1952 Patented Mar. 16,v 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting devices, and more particularly to a seal cutting device adapted to cut plastic, metal-foil or other materials used to seal screw caps and corks to wine and other types of bottles.

The aforementioned materials are normally applied over the top and neck of the bottle and are permitted to solidify thereon, forming a thin, strong seal over the mouth and neck of the bottle. In order to remove the screw caps and corks from such bottles, it is necessary to first remove the seal therefrom, a kitchen-knife normally being employed. The knife edge in such cases is inserted between the lower edge of the seal and th bottle neck and a ripping action is effected. This method of removing the seal is highly inefficient and is moreover quite dangerous due to possible slippage of the knife edge over the curved glass surface of the bottle neck into contact with the fingers. Furthermore, when a sharp knife is used to remove the seal from a corked bottle, the cork is sometimes partially severed, with consequent breaking off of cork particles when removal of the cork is attempted.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a cap seal cutter which is designed to easily cut plastic, metal-foil or other materials used to secure screw caps and corks on various types of bottles by simple application of the hereinafter described device to the neck of the bottle and rotating either the device or the bottle, there resulting a clean cut of the seal with consequent removal of the cork or screw-cap with relative ease.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cap seal cutter which can be stamped of suitable metal and which can b hardened or tempered to assure a sharp cutting edge.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cap seal cutter having a sharp-edged neck engaging portion for easy engagement and cutting of the plastic or metal-foil seal.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cap seal cutter which has an elongated handle portion and a circular, bottleneck engaging portion with sharp cutting edges adapted to engage and sever the plastic or metalfoil seal with a simple turning motion of bottle or cutter.

It is a still further object of the presentinventionto provide a seal cap cutter which has a spring-adjusted, bottle-neck engaging portion whereby to facilitate application of the cuttingedges to the plastic or metal-foil seal.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a seal cap cutter which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is compact, of pleasing appearance, durable, will have long life and is eficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cap seal cutter embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the parts comprising the cap seal cutter, here showing a modified form of jaws;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l, and

Fig, 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to th figures, there is provided a handle 5 consisting of an elongated, slightly tapered, flat bar ofmetal having an enlarged end 6 provided at the center thereof with an opening I. The other end of the handle 5 is rounded for comfort in grasping with the hand and is provided with an opening 8.

Arcuate metal jaws 9 and I0 are pivotally connected to the enlarged end 6 of handle 5 by means of a rivet ll, passing through opening l thereon and then through corresponding openings :2 and I3 located in the enlarged ends 14 and I5 respectively of the arcuate jaws. The inner edges of the arcuate jaws 9 and H) are provided with cutting edges [6 and (1, respectively, adapted to engage the plastic seal I8 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The arcuate jaws 9 and [0 are normally maintained against angular displacement about the rivet II by means of spring steel springs l9 and 20. These springs 19 and 20 are each provided at both ends with downwardly bent portions 2| adapted to rest in openings 22 provided at the ends of the arcuate jaws removed from the rivet II, and in openings 23 provided at the middle portion of th handle 5.

The springs l9 and 20 are fixedly connected in conventional manner to the handle 5 by means of braces 24 snapped in place in the openings 25.

In operation, the handle 5 is grasped in one hand and the expandable arcuate jaws 9 and H are slipped around the bottle seal H3 at a point just below the screw cap or cork head 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Due to the slightly expanded position of the arcuate jaws 9 and ID, the spring steel springs I9 and 20 exert a uniform, automatic pressure around the seal I8 along the cutting edges l6 and IT, assuring a clean severance of the seal l8 when either the cap seal cutter 2? or the bottle 28 is rotated relative to the other. The hole is provided in the handle to permit the hanging of the cutter after using upon a nail or the like located upon a kitchen wall.

The handle 5 and th arcuate jaws 9 and it are metal stampings, hardening or tempering of the above material assuring sharp cutting edges 16 and i1. 'Thespringsl9 and-fiiiareofs'springsteel adapted to impart'the properresilience to the arcuate jaws 9 and I0 and thus the appropriate pressure along the cutting edges it and I"! when they are in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The arcuate jaws 9 and 10 shown in Fig. 2 are modified slightly to accommodate smallnecked bottles.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a simplified cap seal cutter which can be cheaply stamped out of suitable material and which can be hardened or tempered to assure sharp cutting edges, which includes a bottleneck engaging ,portion which is easy to apply and which is provided with novel spring means for exerting uniform pressure along the cutting edges whereby to sever theplastic or metal-foil seal with a simple turning motion of bottle or cutter.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understocd that these shall be within thespirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed asnew is:

1. In a device for cutting a bottle seal, i. a pair of arcuate jaws pivotally connec handle, said arcuate jaws being provided with cutting edges on the inner edges thereof, and being adapted to engage either side of the bottle in contact with the seal, and spring means for niaintainingsaid cutting edges in forced contact with the seal.

2. In a device for cuttinga bottle seal, a handle, a pair of arcuate jaws pivotally connected to said handle, said arcuate jaws being provided with cutting edges on the inner edges thereof, and being adapted to engage either side of the bottle in contact with the seal, and a pair of springsteel springs, said springs having a substantially straight portion fixedly secured to said handle and a curved portion fixedly secured to said arcuate jaws whereby to maintain said cutting edges in forced contact with the seal.

3. In a device for cutting a bottle seal, a flat elongated handle having an enlarged end provided with afirst opening, a pair of flat arcuate jawshaving enlarged portions at one end thereof adapted to be juxtaposed with said enlarged end,

said enlarged portions being provided with openings adapted to align with said first opening, means for pivotally securing said enlarged por tions to said enlarged end, said arcuate jaws being provided with cutting edges at the edges thereof positioned one edge at either side of the bottle and in contact with the seal, and spring means for maintaining said cutting edges in forced contact with the seal.

4. -In a device for cutting a-bottle seal, a fiat elongated handle having an enlarged end provided with a first opening, a pair of fiat arcuate jaws having enlarged portions at one end thereof adapted to be juxtaposed with said enlarged end,

said enlarged portions being provided with openings adapted to align with said first opening, means for pivotally securing said enlarged portions to said enlarged end, said arcuate jaws being provided with cutting edges at the inner edges thereof positioned one edge at either side of the bottle and in contact with the seal, and a pair of spring-steelsprings, said springs having substantially straight portions fixedly secured to said handle'and curved portions fixedly secured to said arcuate jaws whereby to maintain said cutting edges in forced contact-with the seal.

5. In a device for cutting a bottle seal, a fiat, elongated, slightly tapered handle having an enlarged end provided with a first opening, a pair of flat, substantially semi-circular jaws having enlarged portions at one end thereof adapted to be juxtaposed over said enlarged end, said enlarged portions being provided with openings adapted to align with said first opening, means for pivotally securing said enlarged portions to said enlarged end, said semi-circular jaws being provided at the inner edges thereof with cutting edges positioned one edge at either side of the bottle and in contact with the seal, said handle being provided at the central portion thereof with a first pair of holes, said semi-circular jaws being provided at the ends remote from said handle with a second pair of holes, a pair of spring steel springs having substantially straight portions adapted to engage said handle and substantially semi-circular portions adapted to engage said semi-circular jaws, said springs being provided at the ends thereof with downwardbent portions adapted to engage said first and second pair of holes, and bracket means for securing said straight portions to said handle whereby to maintain said jaws in engagement with said bottle and to maintain said cutting edges in forced contact with the seal.

ARTHUR JOSEPH SILBERHORIJ.

No references cited. 

